War Brides by Helen Bryan

World War II fiction stories are very popular right now. Some have been very good. There is something about that generation of people that speaks to resilience and determination that can inspire. I think these stories also help us work through the horrors of war that maybe help us gain a deeper appreciation of the sacrifices that were made.

Does War Brides by Helen Bryan reach this kind of status? In some ways it does. The story takes place in England. The women left behind take up roles that support the war effort. Some of the women in this story are relocated from London, the others are locals. They form a support group as tragedy and life events unfold. As the war goes on, rumors suggest a spy in their midst is leaking information to the Nazi's. Decades after the war, the women reunite and their secret that helped the war effort is revealed.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. It was engaging and interesting. While the story is fiction, it was easy to believe it could have happened. I won't spoil the ending, but it did leave me dissatisfied. I suppose war makes for difficult decisions. Would I have done what these women did? I don't know that I would, but I can understand why they did it.

Book Rating: 5 stars

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

River of time series

Confession time.  I devoured a young adult romance series in about a week. Well, at least the first three books in the series. The River of Time series is written by Lisa T. Bergren, which includes Waterfall (book 1), Cascade (book 2), and Torrent (book 3). The author has since added Bourne and Tributary (book 4) and DELUGE (book 5). I have not yet read Deluge because I did not know about it till now. It is going on my to-read list now!

So what is it about? In Waterfall, Gabi and Lia are sisters stuck at an archeological dig over the summer with their mother. Gabi decides to explore a part of the dig in a cave and places her hand a top a hand print on the cave wall. Suddenly she finds herself in 14th century Italy complete with warring knights and castles. Lia somehow is transported back in time but is separated from Gabi. Gabi and Lia must find a way home to their own time, but adventure and love are in the past.

In Cascade, Gabi, Lia, and their mother return again to the past only to discover that months have passed since they last left. In that time tensions between the Florentines and Sienese have reached a breaking point and war is on the horizon. Gabi and Lia, both known as "she-wolves", rise to the occasion to help win the battle. Meanwhile Gabi falls more deeply in love with Marcello and must make a decision about whether to stay.

In Torrent, the girls decide to save their father from an untimely demise and bring him into the past. Meanwhile, there is more adventure and romance for Gabi and Marcello. Gabi must make the decision whether to marry Marcello or not. Can she forever give up the future? There are lots of twists and turns in the story and it moves pretty fast. And yes, Lia also finds some romance. This was supposed to be the final book of a trilogy, but the author has added two more books.

Bourne and Tributary are two novellas the author added to help tie up loose ends. Parts of Bourne are told from Lia's point of view and the rest by Gabi. We get to see Lia and Luca come closer together. In Tributary, we get Lia and Luca's point of view. Lia, who is younger than Gabi, also must deal with all the experiences she has had that would traumatize anyone. Both stories have more action and adventure.

If you can ignore the silly time traveling device and the fact that Gabi and Lia seem to be able to understand medieval Italian, the stories are very good. There is just the right mix of adventure, medieval warfare, and romance (nothing too naughty here because it is classified as a teen Christian romance). I would finish one book, close the cover and state, "I need the next book now!" I would call these books a guilty pleasure.

Book Rating: 5 stars

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

To love anew

Another Christian fiction read that was a temporarily free Kindle ebook. This is book 1 in the Sydney Cove series. Hannah Talbot's mother dies and she is left alone running her mother's tailoring shop in London. But as word gets out of her mother's death, she slowly loses business. In desperation she obtains employment as a maid only to discover her employer wanted her for nefarious reasons. Hannah flees to the streets of London where she steals in order to eat. Sentenced to prison, Hannah is sent to Australia aboard a prison ship. After an arduous journey, a difficult life in Australia begins. Slowly Hannah gains the trust of those around her and even finds true love.

I enjoyed reading this story. The author seemed to capture what life would have been like in the early days of Australia. I felt sympathy for Hannah and her plight and hoped she could find her way to a happier life. As most books of this type go, the ending is predictable although the journey there is memorable.

Book rating: 4 stars

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

Lark Rise to Candleford

I first became aware of Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson after watching most of the first season of the BBC adaptation. I assumed that the book would be just as good or better than the tv version. The book was very different from what I was expecting.

Lark Rise to Candleford is a compilation of three stories previously published separately. The character that the reader follows is Laura. It is through Laura that you come to understand life in the rural English countryside at a time when things are transitioning from the old world to the new at the end of the 18th century. Laura observes the traditions and culture that has endured for many generations. The poverty of rural life is compared to a more comfortable middle class life when Laura accepts an apprenticeship in a post office.

The stories in the book are made up of a series of vignettes about daily life. This means there is no outstanding story with a climax and resolution. Instead, we see the march of time pressing on people as they struggle to live. Much of the language, structure and vocabulary, make for difficult reading at times. The first volume Lark Rise is perhaps the most enjoyable. The later two books were more difficult to read. Despite my difficulties, the books were quite popular in their time.

The television adaptation is charming and family friendly. The first season draws much of its inspiration from the books, borrowing even some of the dialogue. The remaining three seasons draw on the characters of the first season but clearly delve into original storylines. The last season focuses on Laura's romantic entanglements. The show was cancelled after the fourth season as the BBC began to focus on Downton Abbey despite rather high ratings and popularity. The show is available for free on Amazon Prime.

Book Rating: 4 stars, difficult reading but worth it.

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

Bright Empires series

Stephen R. Lawhead is one of my favorite authors.  In 2012 he released a new series called Bright Empires. The story follows Kit as he ventures through time and parallel worlds using ley lines. He inherits this ability from his traveling Grandfather. Soon his ex-girlfriend and newly made friends join in. But there are dark forces who seek to control the ability to detect gateways to other worlds and they are after Kit and his friends.

The first book is The Skin Map, which details the existence of a map showing various gateways. This is followed by The Bone House where Kit is trapped in a paleolithic world. The next book is the Spirit Well, a place of great power and mystery.

The stories are fun time travelling adventures. I found the idea of ley lines and gateways to other worlds rather confusing. If you can set this aside or just accept it as a part of the universe Lawhead has created, then it's really no big deal. Each story builds on the previous so you can't read them out of order. I found I enjoyed the series more the further along I went. There were parts of the Bone House and The Spirit Well that have stayed with me. Book 4 has just been released and I'll have to see if the library will get it.

Book Rating: 4 stars - a fun fantasy adventure series.

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

The notorious Benedict Arnold

Benedict Arnold, a historical figure whose name is used to describe traitors. Why did a patriot reverse loyalties in the midst of a war? Steve Sheinkin skillfully tells Arnold's story from his earliest beginnings to his tragic end. The story does not get bogged down in extreme detail. You are given enough of the big picture to understand Arnold's historical context and how his actions influenced the outcome of the Revolutionary War.

There are very few biographies that are appealing or fun to read for young adults or younger readers. This book fills a niche that is very much needed. This book also appeals to adult readers. I feel that I learned a lot about a historical figure that gets only a passing mention in history books. It is true this a fictionalized account but the author did his homework.

Book Rating: 5 stars - a quick and enjoyable read.

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

My Antonia

 

My Antonia by Willa Cather is a classic American novel. Cather tells the story of Jim Burden and Antonia Shimerda. Jim is sent to live with his grandparents in Nebraska after being orphaned and Antonia arrives with her parents from Bohemia. The story is told through Jim's point of view. We see the harsh realities of living on the prairie while trying to scratch a living from the dirt. We are given the constant contrast between town and country living, growing up and facing the consequences of our choices. Both characters make choices, some sad and others life altering. This is not a love story per se, but both characters share an affection and caring for each other despite the life choices each make.

While reading this story I kept hoping Antonia and Jim would end up together. Instead, the reader is given more and perhaps a true depiction of what life was like during the time. You grow to care for the characters and there are times when you wish you could reach into the book and make them choose differently. While the story ends differently than one would expect, it is still satisfying.

Book rating: 5 stars



The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

Wives and daughters

 

It may be sacrilege to say this but I think Elizabeth Gaskell is a better writer than Jane Austen. I like both authors but Gaskell's writing is more mature with greater depth. I read this book after seeing the excellent BBC adaptation.

Molly Gibson's father, a widower, remarries not only for love but for the sake of his daughter. But Molly is concerned about her father's new wife. The new Mrs. Gibson is a refined governess, but tends to be a bit silly. Molly struggles to love her new mother while caring for aging neighbors - with handsome, available sons. Mrs. Gibson pushes Molly toward attachments which cannot happen. Secrets abound on all sides and the journey is truly rewarding.

This is Gaskell's last book, barely finished before her death. Some editions of the story wrap up Molly's story (especially the movie) and others leave you hanging. I love the dialogue and witticisms in the story. There were various passages that made me laugh out loud and others that made me think. The movie does not take too many liberties with story and even pulls dialogue directly from the books. It did take me a long time to read the book because I already knew the story. Still, it is well worth it.

Book and movie rating: 5 stars


The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

Alice's Tulips

 

This is the second book by Sandra Dallas that I've read. This story takes place in Iowa during the Civil War.

Alice marries Charlie just prior to his joining up to fight in the Union army. Alice is left behind to live with her mother-in-law to take care of the farm. She is a bit immature and inexperienced in farm life while living with a hard woman. She experiences poverty, struggle, and difficulty with others.

The story is a quick read, but it wasn't my favorite. I felt like the author picked some modern women and dropped them in Iowa during the Civil War. I just had a hard time buying it. I also predicted what would happen to Alice pretty early on, and who would take the blame. I don't want to spoil the story for those who read it, but it is predictable with a nice tidy ending.

Book Rating: 2 stars

The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

There will be wolves

Ursula is the daughter of an apothecary. She has a natural gift for healing. She can read and has a book given to her by a monk that contains information on healing. She is accused of being a witch by some jealous neighbors. In order to escape being burned, she is sentenced/forced to accompany a crusade as a healer.

There will be Wolves is a young adult, historical Christian novel. It examines gender roles, intolerance, hate, abuse, and the travesties of war - though not too deeply. The story is appropriate for ages 10-15. I enjoyed it enough to finish it, but it was predictable.

Book rating: 3 stars.

Eight Mules from Monterey

Eight Mules from Monterey by Patricia Beatty is a charming story about a lady librarian and her two children. A widow and recent graduate of library school is given the job to set-up rural outposts or library branches in the rural hill country of California in 1916. The journey requires travel by mule over difficult terrain. Her two children accompany her on the trip. Along the way, the family encounters interesting and sometimes dangerous individuals.

The story is charming and doesn't take much time to read. Unfortunately neither the title or cover art is particularly enticing to the modern young adult reader. I'm not sure the story will interest many either. I liked the story, although there were a few word choices that made me pause. This story is written at for a younger teen and is fairly clean compared to a lot of the trash published today.

Book Rating: 3 stars

North and South

After watching the recent BBC version of North and South, I had to read Elizabeth Gaskell's original story. I have to admit I was lost for most of the beginning of the movie. Even after watching the whole movie, there was still some things I didn't understand. I didn't know if the screenwriters did a faithful adaptation or if it was just poorly directed. I'm glad I read the book and I can easily say that this book is among my top favorites of all time.

If you were to only watch the movie version, it would be easy to assume that the story is merely another historical drama romance for which the BBC is well known. The book is far deeper and skillfully crafted than you would expect. Elizabeth Gaskell is a master storyteller, crafting a story that is both a political statement as it is a romance. Gaskell manages to not pass judgment on which ever side her characters fall.

Margaret and her family move from southern England to the North when her father decides to leave the ministry. Margaret's father takes on the role of a teacher for the upper-middle class and working class in a factory town that process cotton into cloth. Margaret becomes stuck between social classes. She primarily associates with the upper class but has sympathies for the working class. She observes the struggle between the mill owners and the union, the educated and non-educated. It is through Margaret's eyes that we are able to be observers of both sides of the conflict.

I like that Gaskell allows the reader to explore both sides of the argument and allows the reader to decide who is right or wrong. And the distinction is not clear cut. Both sides have clearly justified positions. Admittedly the beginning of the book is slow but I'm glad I stuck with it.

Book rating: 5 stars




The books I select for review are books which I personally select from my local library. I do not receive any reimbursement from authors or publishers or free books. I do provide links to Amazon as a convenience to the readers of this blog. I do earn a small referral pittance which is not even enough to buy a soda.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing

I often hear about new or award winning young adult books at library conferences. Octavian Nothing is one of those books. The reviewer told us how wonderful this book is and to stick with it despite how dark it is. And it is very, very dark.

A pregnant slave girl, who eventually delivers a boy, is bought by the leader of a philosophic/science group. The girl is treated like a princess and the young boy is raised in a life of privilege. The story is told from the perspective of the young boy who tells his story through a series of memories and letters. Each chapter recounts some act of torture or experiment upon himself. We soon learn that the group of men raising him had their own evil intentions on why they performed these experiments. At some point the American Revolution enters the story and a discussion of the meaning of freedom sort of concludes the story.

I read the first 5 chapters of the book and was depressed. It is so dark and disturbing that I couldn't imagine what the pay off was. Was there any hope? I skipped through the book reading various pages and found that the ENTIRE book was this way. The end of the book has Octavian saying something like, "I don't know what freedom is, but at least I will have the freedom to die." Apparently there is a sequel that further explores issues of slavery and freedom.

I know that historically people did horrible and despicable things. But the set-up for this story is unbelievable and evil. The author mixes ideas of the Enlightenment and transposes it to Boston, giving it a sinister twist. He incorrectly throws in ideas of Darwinism, a point of view not known till much later. While it may be good for young adult readers to explore themes about slavery vs. freedom, the author takes the reader to unknown depths to make his point. This is one book to toss in the trash. It is not appropriate for young adult readers due to explicit descriptions of torture, rape, adultery and requires an advanced reading level to understand.

Book Rating: Yuck, just toss it.

The Guernsey literary and potato peel pie society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is book one of two that I have read recently written in a letter format. Mary Ann Shaffer introduces us to Juliet Ashton, a writer who lived during the blitz on London during World War II. During the war, she wrote positive stories to support the war effort. But reality is much darker and more difficult than what she had written. She wanted to write a real story about the war. Juliet is introduced to a cast of characters on the island of Guernsey. These people lived through the occupation by the Germans.

The story is a series of letters between Juliet and her publisher and the people on Guernsey. I liked the letter format for storytelling. The characters are revealed in layers and you can grow to like them in the same way you get to know people in real life. I liked the story and finished it rather quickly. The book was recommended highly by a reader's group in my town. When some online friends also recommended the book highly, I went ahead and picked it up. They may have over-hyped the book because I found the book a bit predictable. But doesn't that always happen when people get excited about a book? It didn't move me in the same way and certainly not in the way I expected. The book is still worth reading and I am glad to be introduced to the island of Guernsey.

Book Rating: 4 stars

The Jump-Off Creek

The Jump-Off Creek by Molly Gloss is a story about homesteaders in the Pacific Northwest. In this story Lydia heads west after her husband dies to homestead alone. She buys a rather poor homestead and settles in. Her nearest neighbors are two rough cowboys who also ranch and a bit further away is a family with small children. She doesn't fear being alone and isn't afraid of hard work. By taking up a homestead, Lydia is able to work through her grief by seeking solace.

The author does a good job expressing the feeling of loneliness and hardship of frontier life. The story is a bit slow in spots, mimicking the monotony of daily life. The story switches between Lydia, the two cowboys, and some outlaws. I took a bit of time for me to get into the rhythm of the story, but eventually I had to finish the story. What would happen to Lydia? Unfortunately, the story just ends. There isn't much resolution to any of the characters. Instead frontier life continued regardless of the events or feelings of the characters. It left me hanging and unsatisfied. I think I even said, "Well, that's a dumb ending." Many disagreed with me at Amazon. I guess you'll have to make up your own mind.

Book Rating: 3 Stars